Tags
Christmas, Christmas cooking, Mince pies, mincemeat, sweet shortcrust pastry, traditional British food
We had our Carol Service at Rumburgh church on Saturday and I made two dozen mince pies to take with me as part of the after-service refreshments.
Sweet shortcrust pastry is used for French fruit flans, tarts, little fancy cakes – and mince pies! The following recipe makes about twelve mince pies. I use the same method when making little individual apple pies which are lovely for buffets, packed lunches and picnics.
225 g / 8 oz plain flour
pinch of salt
50 g / 2 oz butter
50 g / 2 oz lard or vegetable shortening
25 g / 1 oz caster sugar
1 egg yolk
a little water
This makes 225 g / 8 oz pastry
As soon as I think that I have finished rubbing in the fat I then tell myself to continue for another minute. I always find a piece of fat I had missed.
I always just use my hands, never a spoon, when making pastry. I find it mixes together quickly and easily and I can feel when it is of the right consistency rather than just trusting to my eyes. I have never used a blender to make pastry either.
Sometimes just dampening my fingers adds enough water to make the pastry smooth and elastic. Too much water makes the pastry slimy and horrid and will never be anything other than tough to eat.
Knead lightly until smooth but don’t overwork it or it will lose its lightness.
As the pastry is very short (crumbly – difficult to keep together) it requires careful handling or it will split and fall apart. If you haven’t added enough water when mixing it will fall apart very readily. This problem can easily be overcome by adding a sprinkle more water and re-kneading the dough.
I have never made my own mincemeat but have been meaning to for years! Bought mincemeat is very variable, some very poor and more like runny jam than proper mincemeat. I have found one that is very good and I use it every year. Some bought mincemeats can be improved by a little lemon juice or a small drop of brandy or rum.
Mincemeat is made from shredded suet (beef or vegetable), grated or finely chopped apple, mixed dried fruit (sultanas, raisins and currants), brown sugar, chopped blanched almonds, chopped candied orange and lemon peel, finely grated rind and juice of a large lemon, mixed spice, cinnamon, grated nutmeg and some brandy, whisky or rum. Hundreds of years ago it did contain meat as well, hence the name of mincemeat, but no longer. If vegetable suet is used then the mince pies can be eaten by vegetarians.
Cut out 12 smaller rounds of pastry with a plain or fluted cutter. I use a 6 cm / 2.5″ cutter. If you don’t have enough pastry to cut out all the rounds you need, gather all the trimmings together, knead them with a little water and roll out again.
Place the pies in their pastry pan onto a baking sheet and bake in a pre-heated oven at 220 degrees C / 425 degrees F / Gas Mark 7 for 12 to 15 minutes or until well risen and golden.
Leave to cool in the pastry pan for a few minutes and then place on a rack to finish cooling.
Mince pies can be eaten hot straight from the oven or cold, on their own or with custard or cream and even as an accompaniment to Christmas pudding if you are so minded. They keep for days and days in a sealed container and can be re-heated. I love them!
Christy Birmingham said:
My Mom plans to make these this week so this post is well timed! 🙂
LikeLike
clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you, Christy! I hope you and your family have a very happy Christmas.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Christy Birmingham said:
Thank you! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and that the New Year is great for you too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
New Hampshire Garden Solutions said:
My family must not have liked mincemeat because I never had any as a boy and I suppose because of that I’ve never had one as an adult either. They sound tasty and now I’m wondering why we never had any.
LikeLike
clarepooley33 said:
Not everyone likes them as they are quite rich and as I said not all mincemeats are well made. My youngest daughter isn’t that keen on them but the rest of us really like them and look forward to them every year. I am not an enthusiastic cook but as I know they are so popular I am encouraged to get on with the baking.
LikeLike
quietsolopursuits said:
They look and sound absolutely yummy! I hope that every one appreciated all the work that it took to make them.
LikeLike
clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you! They all went so I think they were appreciated! I am starting on some more today for our own consumption and some for my brother too.
LikeLike
lundygirl said:
They look very yummy. I feel inspired to go and make some!
LikeLike
clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Rachel. Until about twenty years ago I really thought that I couldn’t and wouldn’t be able to make pastry. I think it was my mother who encouraged me by saying that if I could make a crumble (which I could) I could make pastry as long as I was careful when adding the liquid. I’ll never been an enthusiastic cook but I know that there are some things I make well and mince pies are on that list. I hope you and your family have a lovely Christmas. Clare xx
LikeLike
Cynthia Reyes said:
You are a domestic diva indeed, Clare. I can almost taste those pies!
Wonderful.
Signed: The Un-Domestic Diva.
LikeLike
clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you, Cynthia! Pastry making is one of the very few things I can do fairly well so I have taken the opportunity to blow my own trumpet! There are any number of skills I do not have and never will, no matter how hard I try. I am sure, in fact I know you have a number of domestic skills – preserve making for instance? The photographs you have shown of your lovely home show that you have great skill in making your rooms look so attractive and comfortable. Methinks the lady protests too much!
LikeLike
Cynthia Reyes said:
Hey, this lady doesn’t protest half enough, my friend! I am in awe of all the things you accomplish. Makes me feel like a complete slug.
My domestic skills are legendary for all the wrong reasons.
Clare, I’m sending you and yours wishes for a wonderful Christmas and hoping you’ll all enjoy some time out from life challenges. You deserve it, my friend.
LikeLike
clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you for your Christmas wishes. I love Christmas but like most people who do the cooking at this time I won’t relax and start to really enjoy myself until after lunch. I hope your Christmas is a joyful time for you and your family, free from health worries. God bless you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cynthia Reyes said:
Thank you.
Grace and peace to you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
tootlepedal said:
If you need any help with eating them, I would be happy to oblige.
LikeLiked by 1 person
clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you, I will let you know! I am having to hide them from my husband.
LikeLike
tootlepedal said:
That seems mean. Make some more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
clarepooley33 said:
I’m a mean woman when it comes to mince pies! I will be making lots more as my eldest daughter is coming home tomorrow for a week and she is very good at putting them away too. I will make sure my husband gets his fair share.
LikeLike
Elizabeth Melton Parsons said:
I use my hands too-best way. 🙂 Never made mincemeat pies, thanks for the great tips. Hope you had a lovely Christmas. Wishing you a very happy New Year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
clarepooley33 said:
We have had a lovely Christmas, thank-you! A happy New Year to you too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Charlotte Hoather said:
My Dad loves mince pies I should have a go at these for him. Hope you’re having a lovely Christmas holiday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
clarepooley33 said:
Do have a go! It is much easier than you would think and once you can make pastry all sorts of nice things can be made. There are different types of pastry for different types of filling and all are quite easy to do. I don’t bother making puff pastry as it takes so long and the ready-made is very good.
Thank-you, yes we are having a very good Christmas holiday.
LikeLike
Pingback: Advent | A Suffolk Lane
sherijkennedyriverside said:
Yummy! They look delicious. I have been eyeing the jar of mincemeat each time I am shopping, but although they have my preferred brand they only chose to bring in the one without the rum and brandy added this year. I like it much better with the warm tang of the alcohol to balance the sweet spices. I just may make some. Your photos make me feel as if can smell it, and it always makes the house have the aroma of Christmas!
LikeLiked by 1 person
clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Sheri! I often add a little something to the mincemeat to perk it up. The brand I prefer isn’t too sweet which suits me very well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
sherijkennedyriverside said:
Lots of brands here add corn syrup and too much sugar. I always buy imported since I too prefer it less sweet. Enjoy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
clarepooley33 said:
I will! ❤ Happy Christmas! (In case I don't get a chance to say it later!)
LikeLike